A Colonist’s Plea for Land Nationalisation

A proposal to nationalise land, but no firm method of doing this, except that: As to the circumstances under which the land shall be taken, the manner in which compensation shall be determined and rent re-valued and so on, all these are questions of detail to be well thought out and freely and thoroughly discussed. One thing only must be insisted on; that the taking, the re-valuing, the letting, the recovery of rent, and every process connected with the disposal of the land shall be entirely removed from the control of party politics and personal influence, and be made strict processes of the law, guided by definite rules and administered by properly appointed and independent courts, just as the valuation of property, the granting of mineral leases, and the recovery of rates and taxes are now.